1. Title I Needs Assessment and Program Evaluation
Fall Title I Statewide Conference
November 5, 2014

2. Agenda Needs assessment Title I program evaluation
Where to find resources for each
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

3. Needs assessment - requirements
Districts are required to conduct annual needs assessments that include data on student achievement relative to State standards, and input from parents and educators
Title I program planning must be based on district and school needs assessment
Written needs assessment procedure is required
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

4. Needs assessment - purpose
Establishes priorities for action and informs decisions about allocation of resources (people, materials, time, and fiscal)
Needs assessment will inform decisions on where/how resources (including Title I) should be distributed and utilized in the district
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

5. Needs assessment - components
In general, a needs assessment:
Considers a range of needs and issues
Student needs
Curriculum and instruction
Professional development
Family and community involvement
School and district context and organization
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

6. Needs assessment - components
Includes information gathered from a variety of sources
Quantitative data, such as: student achievement results, enrollment counts, dropout rates, graduation rates from school and district records and reports, and demographic statistics from community-based or other organizations.
Qualitative data that reveal attitudes and perceptions, such as: written surveys, face-to-face or telephone interviews, focus groups, or classroom observations.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

7. Needs assessment - components
Uses valid and reliable data
Involves many individuals representing a range of knowledge, skills, and expertise
Results in the development of goals and action plans
Is used as the basis for resource allocation
Includes regular follow-up and evaluation of plans and strategies
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

8. Needs assessment - procedure
Written procedure includes:
Description of quantitative/qualitative data collected and analyzed
Who is involved in analysis
How priority needs are determined
How school improvement plans and other documentation relate to this process
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

9. Needs assessment - resources
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

10. Conditions for School Effectiveness Self-Assessment
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

11. Conditions for School Effectiveness Self-Assessment
Level 3 (districts with one or more schools among the lowest-performing 20% based on quantitative indicators, or schools with low graduation rates): Schools in Level 3 are required to complete a self-assessment process aligned with Essential Conditions for School Effectiveness.
Level 3 districts will be given high priority for Department assistance, including resources to assist their efforts to implement the Essential Conditions at each identified school.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

12. Conditions for School Effectiveness Self-Assessment
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

13. Conditions for School Effectiveness Self-Assessment
CSE Self-Assessment School Improvement Plan revision
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

14. Program evaluation- requirements
Federal legislation requires that a school operating a Title I program annually evaluate the implementation of, and results achieved by, the Title I program
Written program evaluation procedure and program evaluation summary are required
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

15. Program evaluation- purpose
The Title I program evaluation is an annual review of Title I activities to determine if they are contributing to the desired outcomes:
Improved student achievement
Effective family engagement
High quality professional development
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

16. Program evaluation- components
Measures efficacy and impact of Title I program
Documents impact of Title I services on student learning
Includes evaluation of private school services, parental involvement, consultancy services
Informs school and district planning (cycle of continuous improvement)
Is an advocacy tool
Is conducted at end of program year
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

17. Program evaluation- key questions
Has the Title I program been effective?
What has worked well in the Title I program?
What has not worked well in the Title I program?
How should the Title I program be refined?
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

18. Program evaluation - procedure
Description of:
Data used
Constituents consulted
Process used to arrive at evaluation findings
How findings are utilized for planning and improvement
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

19. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

20. Program evaluation - summary
Summary of:
Program strengths
Program weaknesses
Subsequent program changes
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

21. Program evaluation - resources
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

22. Needs assessment & program evaluation
What are the differences and how do they relate to each other?
Program evaluation
Evaluates Title I program only
Done after the fact (end of year)
Helps to plan Title I for next year
Needs assessment
Looks at all school data, including Title I
Done before beginning of school year
Assesses priority needs in district/schools and determines where Title I fits in, as well as other resources
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

23. Continuous improvement
Needs assessment Program evaluation
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

24. Resources & contact info
Title I sample documents:
Conditions for School Effectiveness Self-Assessment:
Phone:
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education